After his release from prison, Alexei faced a new challenge: he has been unable to find work, while at home his mother is battling advanced cancer and requires constant care.
My name is Alexei*. I am still in Belarus, remain under official supervision, and cannot openly ask for help because I am a former political prisoner.
I was detained in Minsk in September 2023. At first, I was sentenced to administrative detention, but that was followed by a criminal case, time in a remand centre, a prison sentence, transfer to a correctional facility, and inclusion on the government's list of “extremists.” I was released only recently. I remain under supervision, carry the stigma of a political conviction, and have been unable to find work for almost six months.
The supervision never really ends. They know who you are, regularly summon you for questioning, and treat you as if you are a threat.
I cannot leave Belarus because of my mother. She is in extremely serious condition, suffering from advanced cancer. The disease continues to progress, with severe complications. She needs constant care, medication, supportive treatment, proper nutrition, and regular medical supervision.
I have found myself in a situation I cannot overcome alone: my mother is gravely ill, I have no job, and we have almost no money. Whenever I have to leave the house, I ask a neighbor to look after her, but that is only a temporary solution. Hiring a professional caregiver is simply beyond our means.
My mother's condition is critical. Every day she needs medication, nutritious food, personal care, and close monitoring. She cannot manage on her own, and I cannot abandon her and leave the country.
I look for temporary jobs whenever I can, but the income is unpredictable. At the same time, because of my mother's condition, I cannot be away from home for long or work regular hours. It has become a vicious circle: I need a job to support my mother and survive myself, but I cannot find one, and even occasional work is difficult to combine with full-time caregiving.
I know many people are facing hardships today. It is difficult for me to ask for help, but I no longer see another way forward. I ask for your support for my mother and me. Your donation will help us get through the coming months by covering medication, food, essential living expenses, and the care she urgently needs while I continue searching for work and trying to rebuild our lives.
*This is an anonymous fundraising campaign. For security reasons, the beneficiary's name and certain details of the story have been changed. The image accompanying the campaign was also generated using AI.
Fundraising goal
€4000
€2000 – medical expenses, medication, and nutrition for my mother
€2000 – essential living expenses for our family while I continue looking for work